Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite attention from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
